The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Bicol is now preparing for the possible effects of the approaching tropical cyclone to be named “Odette” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
During a pre-disaster assessment meeting on Monday with concerned agencies, Claudio Yucot, Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol regional director and Bicol DRRMC chairperson, said the region has been placed under a Blue Alert status, thus, preparedness measures have to be in place for the public’s safety.
Yucot said all provincial DRRMCs and Naga City DRRMC presented the projected impact and anticipated needs of their respective areas. Response cluster lead agencies were tasked to present their preparedness measures to be undertaken and their projected needs to be endorsed to the national DRRMC, he said.
“Provincial, town, and city disaster councils (were told) to activate their respective 24/7 emergency operations centers (EOC) aimed to closely monitor weather conditions and disseminate the weather advisories to various barangay DRRM committees,” he added.
Likewise, Yucot said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and various disaster councils were directed to implement a localized “no sailing policy” especially to fisher folks that intend to sail to catch fish.
Response agencies were also requested to make available their respective assets for possible deployment once the weather condition worsens.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) provided a presentation on the track, forecast, and worst-case scenario and possible impacts and effects of the tropical cyclone.
PAGASA, in its bulletin, said that once inside PAR, “the domestic name Odette will be assigned to this tropical cyclone. The west-northwestward movement is forecast to continue until Wednesday morning.”
Afterward, the tropical cyclone will turn westward and may make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas by Thursday afternoon or evening, it added.
“Odette” is forecast to gradually intensify within the forecast period and may reach the typhoon category by Wednesday. A peak intensity of around 150 kilometers per hour may be reached before landfall, PAGASA said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
